Media Prediction Thread: Rutgers at Minnesota

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BleedGopher

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CFN is first out of the gate:

What’s Going To Happen​

Rutgers is 4-0 when rushing for 140 yards and 0-3 when it doesn’t. Minnesota is 4-0 when allowing under 140 yards, and 0-3 when it doesn’t.

Rutgers won’t gain 140 rushing yards. Minnesota is still banged up, but it’ll get it right the ship with a decent enough offensive balance to go along with a good day from the D.

Minnesota 26, Rutgers 10

collegefootballnews.com

Minnesota vs Rutgers Prediction, Game Preview

Minnesota vs Rutgers game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 9 game on Saturday, October 29
collegefootballnews.com collegefootballnews.com

Go gophers!!
 

College Football News has Minnesota getting back on track with a 26-10 win
Rutgers is 4-0 when rushing for 140 yards and 0-3 when it doesn’t. Minnesota is 4-0 when allowing under 140 yards, and 0-3 when it doesn’t.

Rutgers won’t gain 140 rushing yards. Minnesota is still banged up, but it’ll get it right the ship with a decent enough offensive balance to go along with a good day from the D.

Picks and Parlays has Minnesota winning 27-12
We like the home team in this matchup. The Scarlett Knights are 2-1 on the road in their last 3 toad games. The Golden Gophers are 3-1 at home in their last 4 home games. The Scarlett Knights are 1-1-1 ATS on road, while the Golden Gophers are 3-1 ATS at home in their last 4 home games.

We think Minnesotas defense will make it hard for Rutgers to score. For our best bet we are taking MINN -14.5. Final score prediction, the Golden Gophers win, covers the spread and the total stays under 27-12.
 

Rutgers, like Indiana, is one of those eastern division teams we don't see very often. This will be only the 3rd meeting since they joined the conference in 2014 but this one will be by far the most anticipated one. The prior two games (2016, 2019) were under very different circumstances. In those seasons, we met them while cruising through the easier part of the schedule on our way to a good (2016) or very good (2019) season. In 2019, they were the 7th game of a 9 game winning streak. In 2016, they were the 2nd game of a 4 game winning streak.

Now, we're meeting them after coming off a three game losing streak. Oddly enough, they were our closest regular season victory (34-32) in 2016. We had a good defensive team (#21 in points allowed) that year too.
 

17 Rutgers University, the place where college football started.
24 University of Minnesota, the place where college football cheerleading started.
 

Here are the staff predictions from NJ Advance Media
Steve Politi has Rutgers winning 20-17
Call this one the Joe Harasymiak Game. The Rutgers defensive coordinator held the same job at Minnesota last season, and of all the many ties between these two coaching staffs, this one is the most intriguing. Not only have the Scarlet Knights emerged as one of the better defenses in the Big Ten this year, they have a play caller who has a granular knowledge of the Minnesota offense and its players. That wouldn’t be enough for an upset against the top-level Big Ten teams, but the Golden Gophers are just above average. Rutgers will dominate defensively, win the field position battle and do just enough offensively to come away with an important victory.

Brian Fonseca has Minnesota winning 30-21
The more I think about it, the more I realize I am falling into the recency bias trap. Rutgers beat Indiana, yes, but the Hoosiers are not very good. Will the Scarlet Knights take their play up a level on the road against a good Gophers team that will be fired up to get their coach a win over his mentor? I’m not sure they can do enough to steal a win, but I would be shocked if Rutgers does not cover the spread.

Pat Lanni has Minnesota winning 28-17
If Rutgers can stop the run, it can win. Doing so against Mohamed Ibrahim, one of the nation’s leading rushers, will be easier said than done, however. That said, 14 points feels like too much for a Minnesota team riding a three-game losing streak. Especially, one with questions at quarterback, too. Expect this one to be close, and for Rutgers to cover, but ultimately come up short.

FanSided is picking Minnesota to get the victory
Rutgers has a solid defense this year, but with Noah Vedral at quarterback this offense is going nowhere fast. They are 102nd in total offense this season and even in a win vs. Indiana last week, Vedral only completed 12 of 24 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown. That won’t be enough to beat a veteran quarterback like Tanner Morgan should Morgan play.

Athan Kaliakmanis had to make his first start of the season in Happy Valley for the White Out game. Name a more disastrous situation for a young player to start at quarterback… you can’t. Morgan was out with a concussion and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was back, but even if it is Kaliakmanis again, he will play so much better against Rutgers at home.

Minnesota’s offense is not going to set the world on fire, but 49th in the country is a massive difference from 102nd. I like Minnesota to win big back at home.
Pick: Minnesota -14.5 (-105)

OddShark has Minnesota winning 33-14
Minnesota will win, cover the spread, and the total will go over.
 


Wolverines Wire (USA Today) has Minnesota winning 20-13
The Gophers are reeling right now losing three straight games. Tanner Morgan may or may not be back for Saturday against Rutgers, which would leave Athan Kaliakmanis as the starter once again. He struggled against the Nittany Lions, but the Scarlet Knights won’t be as big of a challenge.

Rutgers does have a decent enough defense allowing 283.9 yards per game and just over 21 points. But with the game being in Minnesota and Mo Ibrahim running the ball, I like the Gophers here in a close one.

At Spartans Wire (USA Today), two writers have Minnesota winning and one has picked Rutgers

On Buckeyes Wire (USA Today), all three writers are picking Minnesota
 



The Star Tribune has Minnesota winning 24-17
When looking at the schedule before the season started, the Oct. 28 game against Rutgers didn't appear to be a "circle that one'' contest. But with three consecutive losses, the Gophers desperately need to win this game to prevent their once-promising season from spiraling out of control. To accomplish that, Minnesota needs to get back to its basics of running the ball well and playing stout defense.

If Kaliakmanis starts his second consecutive game, the Gophers offense takes on a multidimensional look because of his ability to run the ball. That could go a long way in keeping the Rutgers defense honest and preventing it from focusing solely on Ibrahim.

For the Scarlet Knights, this game means a lot because they still have Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland and Penn State to play, and they need two wins for bowl eligibility.

My expectation: As bad as the past three games have gone for the Gophers, there's still enough talent there to accomplish good things this season. Look for a strong response at home, and maybe it's Kaliakmanis leading it.

The Pioneer Press is predicting a 24-17 Minnesota victory
MN Off Vs. Rut Def: Former U safeties coach Joe Harasymiak was promoted to defensive coordinator at Rutgers before this season. Along with the defensive-minded Schiano, the Scarlet Knights are seventh in the nation in total defense (283 yards per game). Look for talented CB Max Melton and Christian Braswell to play press man coverage until Minnesota WR prove they can create separation and win contested catches. EDGE: RUT

MN Def vs. RUT Off: Rutgers lags in many categories, including 102nd in points per game (23) and 126th in plays over 10 yards (25). Rutgers has started four QBs, including four-star recruit Gavin Wimsatt, but lately it’s been Nebraska transfer Noah Vedral. He has completed 46 percent in the last two games, with one TD. EDGE: MN

Special teams: Rutgers K Jude McAtamney has made 71 percent of field goals this year; Matthew Trickett has made 87 percent. EDGE: MN

Overall, both defensives have been much better than their respective offenses this season. Hence, the 40.5 over/under points total for this game. With Brevyn Spann-Ford and Mo Ibrahim, Minnesota has a bit more on offense.

Gopher Illustrated (247 Sports) has Minnesota winning 20-13
If Minnesota plays like they have the last three weeks, where the offense is completely discombobulated from the opening kick through the fourth quarter, they're not going to win on Saturday. Rutgers' isn't a great football team, but they're well-coached and will capitalize on mistakes.

If Minnesota starts to play like they did through the entire month of September, the Gophers should win this game by double-digit points at home. I think the reality will result somewhere in the middle, where it's not pretty, but the Gophers do enough at home to get back on track in the Big Ten.

Tony’s Picks has Minnesota winning 27-12
The Golden Gophers’ solid defense will give the Scarlet Knights a headache in penetrating the backline.

Sports Book Wire (USA Today) has Minnesota winning 31-13

All three writers at Athlon Sports have Minnesota winning.
 



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